Actually there weren't...
There are more spells to get rid of artifacts, than enchantments...
And tolarian academy couldn't be countered - still can't be...
Memory jar was banned because it was in a format that could not handle it...
If you notice - banning/restricting is format/physically specific...
And those were individual cards that broke the game, survival is just as vulnerable as scepter is - and there was talk of unrestricting it, but testing has to determine the effects of such actions...
for the scepter - you have to have the mana to put it out, activate it, and the card to remove from hand that's a minimum of 4 cards, leaving you with 1 mana source, 3 cards in hand(probably 1 to 2 more mana), leaving 1-2 spells, then you sit there for a full turn, hoping to not watch the opponent have a quick answer......
the scepter's cost, for it's ability, and vulnerability, keeps it off the banned/restricted list...
I'll leave it at that...
I will however go on the record with that statement... another prophecy from train.